What are standards
  • Include the basic information in the instructions and assessments given
  • Set the line for what students should know and be able to do
  • Create the curriculum, assessments, and professional development
  • Measuring students based on a concrete guidelines instead of off one another

How and when did standards originate
  • 1983 a publication of A Nation at Risk
  • 1989 an education summit results in adoption of national education goals for 2000
  • 1989 National Council of Teachers of Mathematics published the Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics, a standards-based document
  • 1994 authorization of ESEA was passed to ensure that all states had rigorous standards for all subject areas and grade levels
  • 1996 standard-based school reform had become a major issue facing public schools
  • 1998 every state had or was in the process of having academic standards for math and english
  • 2001 No Child Left Behind Act

What are their uses
  • Creation of standards in a curriculum framework are to be applied to all schools in a state or country
  • Tests on these standards instead of norm-based ranking
  • To narrow the gaps between different groups such as races, income, or gender
  • To allow everyone a fair chance at receiving a high school diploma

What are they to teachers
  • Choose classroom activities and teaching strategies that allow students to achieve the standards
  • Are able to make choices of how they can use effective learning
  • Articulate standards
  • Use rubrics to clearly communicate students expectations
  • Use teaching methods that suits students learning needs

What are they to students
  • Use of self-reflection to improve performance
  • Take responsibility of their own learning
  • Communicate progress to their own achievements

How do they differ from other learning systems
  • Standard-based believes anyone can get smart through effort while others think some people are just smarter then others
  • Standard-based believes that subject matter is the same for everyone while others thinks it's different
  • Standard-based compares what students know towards a benchmark while others compare student to student


PA SAS

The PA SAS is a collaborative product of research and good practice that identifies six distinct elements which, if utilized together, will provide schools and districts a common framework for continuous school and district enhancement and improvement

Standards~ describes what students should know and be able to do
  • You can find specific standards, anchors, and eligible content based on subject area and grade level or course
Assessments~ offers tools and resources to judge assessing, evaluating, and documenting students learning
  • Process used before, during, and after instruction to provide results and adjust ongoing teaching and learning to improve student achievement and to provide appropriate challenge for all students at their instructional levels.
Curriculum Framework~ has advantages of teaching topics for subject and topics
Instruction~ Planning and preparation, classroom environment, instruction, and professional responsibilities are all listed under here to help for teachers responsibilities.
Material and Resources~ This topic incorporates learning progressions, units, lesson plans, and content resources in curriculum frameworks for the four content areas
Safe and Supportive Schools~ Reflects on engagement, safety, and environment
  • School engagement is essential towards building academic success and a positive school climate
  • Security of school setting and school activities
  • Environment refers to the extent to which school settings promote student safety and student health